National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combat of Torture claims to have identified cases of violence, lack of food and tuberculosis
O MNPCT (National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combat of Torture), a federal monitoring body, stated that identified maltreatment practices in 5 prisons inspected in 2022 in Rio Grande do Norte (RN).
There are cases of delivery of spoiled food, physical and psychological torture, as well as prisoners diagnosed with tuberculosis who were placed in cells with those who did not have the disease, as a form of punishment.
The inspections were carried out between November 21 and 25, 2022, in the following prisons:
- Alcaçuz State Penitentiary;
- Dinorá Simas Lima Deodato Public Prison (known as Ceará Mirim);
- UPCT (Psychiatric Custody and Treatment Unit);
- Severino Lopes Psychiatric Hospital; It is
- Cerena Therapeutic Community.
To the Power360expert Bárbara Coloniese, who is part of the body linked to the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenshipstated that in numerous cells visited in the penitentiaries there were one or more prisoners with signs of physical aggression.
“In 16 years of experience in the area [de segurança pública], had never witnessed such an inhumane situation. What we saw is really shocking. In literally every cell we entered there was at least one person injured. The severe level of torture practiced in prisons, especially in Alcaçuz, left us very impressed”he said.
In addition to the obvious cases of physical violence, the expert reported precarious food conditions in the inspected prisons.
“The food is not only of poor quality, but often unfit for consumption. So, we are talking about lack of food. In addition to being extremely precarious, of poor quality and low nutritional value, it smells rotten. The lunchboxes arrive poorly packed and open”he explained.
the expert said that in the prison unit of Alcaçuz the food situation of the prisoners is even more critical.
“They [policiais penais] they put the lunchboxes in front of the cells. Only when they give the order can people pick up and take the food. That is, the police determine how long the lunchbox is there, stopped. During inspections, even wearing a potent covid-19 prevention mask, I could smell the sour smell. It was impressive, as in many checks the odor of lunchboxes caused nausea”he stated.
Bárbara Coloniese said that many prisoners are assisted only by the State and, as a result of poor diet, the “weight loss process is evident”.
“Often the family of these people is unable to deliver a cobal [caixa com alimentos e itens de higiene pessoal]so it is a very reduced diet”, added.
Hygiene and sunbathing
According to the expert, prisons in Rio Grande do Norte do not offer a personal hygiene kit.
“The State only provides food assistance, it does not provide a hygiene kit for cleaning, which is absurd. It is a duty to provide this, it is there in the Penal Execution Law. that is, they [presos] end up depending exclusively on family support, and those who do not have it are left unattended”he stated.
In Alcaçuz, prisoners are also not exposed to the sun, for sunbathing, as planned. in paragraph 4 of article 32 of the Penal Execution Law:
- Right of the prisoner to leave the cell for two hours a day to sunbathe, in groups of up to 4 prisoners, as long as there is no contact with prisoners from the same criminal group.
“They don’t have access to sunbathing. In Alcaçuz, for example, they go once a week and basically when they need a shave, a haircut, or that type of hygiene. A daily sunbath with activities is not guaranteed”he spoke.
The expert stated that in the prison in Alcaçuz prisoners go out, on average, every 15 days to sunbathe.
“There are 30 minutes to shave and hair. Even many hurt their heads because they are forced to shave their hair with a razor. We were able to verify this. These people don’t exactly have a sunbath. They do the hygiene and come back”added.
Torture
Bárbara Coloniese reported that, in addition to the cases of abuse identified by the experts, the prisoners heard during the inspections also reported situations of torture.
“In Ceará Mirim we found a person in a completely inhuman situation. She had been in a punishment cell for 39 days without brushing her teeth, without being able to take a shower with soap and without items to clean the internal bathroom. When he opened the cell door it was hard to breathe. That place had an unbreathable atmosphere by the smell of space. Can you imagine that person’s situation?
The expert stated that the FTIP (Task Force for Penitentiary Intervention) “installed [no RN] a logic of functioning of the prison unit based on the modus operandi of physical and psychological torture”.
FTIP was in Rio Grande do Norte in January 2017 to act in the face of the crisis in the state prison system, as a result of the rebellion at the Alcaçuz Penitentiary that resulted in the death of 26 people.
This Wednesday (March 15, 2023), the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flávio Dino, again authorized the intervention of the task force in the penitentiary system of Rio Grande do Norte for a period of 30 days (full – 49 KB).
For Barbara Coloniese, “The FTIP has a worrying action, as it has absolute power within the prisons. We have been asking for protocols and transparency for interventions for years, but we have never received them. We are aware that the first thing they do is cut off access to the penitentiaries from the outside world. The whole torture situation will be in the maximum and stratospheric sphere”.
The expert pointed out that FTIP trains the criminal police officers who work in these prisons.
“Servants are trained to act as if it were a permanent crisis situation, but it is not. Rigidity should be used when there are situations that justify it”he added.
She also described one of the methods used by FTIP that was kept in the State, the so-called “procedure”.
“It’s nothing more than sitting on the floor with your hands on your head, one embedded in the other. If not, they are attacked with tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets. There is a lot of physical violence. In all the units we visited there were at least one or many injured people”he stated.
Bárbara Coloniese said it was possible “identify the level of physical and psychological torture, as it was enough for the police to touch the gun that the prisoners put themselves in a position of ‘procedure’. The psychological trauma was noticeable. Even without noise or voice command, they already put themselves in position out of fear and panic”.
Overcrowding and limited water
Data released by the National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combat of Torture indicate overcrowding in 2 of the inspected prisons.
In Alcaçuz, the capacity is for 967 prisoners. As of December 23, 2022, the unit had 1,846.
In Ceará Mirim, until November 21, 2022, there were 1,188 incarcerated people. That is, 98% more than the capacity of the prison, which was designed for 600 prisoners.
“There are cells with 40 to 60 people. We have pictures that show people piled up, one on top of the other. There is no sunbathing, food and health. And then you have overcrowding in an unsanitary cell. It’s a chaotic situation.”said Bárbara Coloniese.
The expert also reported that the inmates have limited access to water. “It’s only two to three times a day, for about 30 minutes. There is no time to do hygiene and still drink water. And I assure you that they prioritize quenching their thirst”he stated.
accusations
According to Bárbara Coloniese, all situations identified in the inspected prisons were reported to the government of Rio Grande do Norte, the Court of Justice, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the State’s Seap (Secretary of State for Penitentiary Administration).
The Public Defender’s Office participated in the visits to the National Mechanism for the Prevention and Combat of Torture. However, there was no response from the bodies or the governor, Fatima Bezerra (PT).
“I even had the opportunity to meet with the governor in Brasilia to report the cases and seek a solution. But I never heard back. And the saddest thing is that all that we identified in 2022 will increase with the new intervention”he stated.
O Power360 sought the Court of Justice, the Public Ministry and the Secretary of State for the State Penitentiary Administration, but, until at 23:40 on this Wednesday (15.mar), he did not receive any answers. The space remains open for demonstration.
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